Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Kingston, NY

Kingston, NY is in USDA zones 6a to 6b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost September 28.

Kingston on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zones6a–6b−10 to 0 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 14
First frostSep 28
Growing season134 days

6a 1 ZIP   6b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Kingston, NY

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 28median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season134 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 7.

From the NOAA station Rhinebeck 4se, NY, elevation 302 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Kingston

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
BeansSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 3 – Aug 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 14 – Oct 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 14) and first fall frost (Sep 28) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 12401 came on Apr 3 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 6a in New York

635 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New York, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 77

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 129

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 215

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 189

alkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 8

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Kingston, NY.

Soil in Kingston, NY

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 12401 is Nassau — channery silt loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Nassau-Bath-Rock outcrop complex, very steep.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 12401; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Kingston, NY

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights185nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,548base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 07 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation46.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 37 °F, low 11 °F 37°11° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 12 °F 40°12° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 20 °F 49°20° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 31 °F 62°31° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 43 °F 73°43° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 52 °F 81°52° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 56 °F 86°56° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 55 °F 84°55° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 47 °F 77°47° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 35 °F 65°35° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 26 °F 53°26° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 17 °F 42°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 JanFebruary: 2.58 in precipitation 2.6 FebMarch: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 MarApril: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 SepOctober: 4.76 in precipitation 4.8 OctNovember: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 NovDecember: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rhinebeck 4se, NY (10 mi away); precipitation: Rosendale 2 E, NY (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Kingston

124016a
−10 to −5 °F
124026b
−5 to 0 °F

New York planting zones →

Questions about Kingston

What planting zone is Kingston, NY?

Kingston, NY is in USDA hardiness zones 6a to 6b on the 2023 map (6a: −10 to −5 °F; 6b: −5 to 0 °F).

When is the last frost in Kingston, NY?

The median last spring frost is May 14 and the median first fall frost is September 28 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rhinebeck 4se station).

When can I plant a garden in Kingston, NY?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 2 – Apr 23; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 21, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Kingston, NY?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Kingston, NY get?

About 46.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).